NIA welcomes Report published by the UK Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution

Released on Wednesday 12th November 2008

The Nanotechnology Industries Association (NIA) published a full comment on the 27th Report of the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution, entitled Novel Materials in the Environment: The case of nanotechnology.

In its opening remarks, the NIA points out that ‘welcomes the RCEP report, and supports many of its findings and recommendations’.
The NIA statement continues to highlight and comment on specific findings of the RCEP report, including the following:
  • The NIA applauds RCEP’s objectivity in reporting that ‘the Commission found no evidence of harm to health or the environment from nanomaterials […]’.
  • While noting ’that it is not the size of nanomaterials per se that is important, but their functionality, what they do and how they behave, that needs to be evaluated’  the RCEP recommends focussing on ‘the properties and functionalities of specific nanomaterials as the key driver rather than treat all materials in the size range as one single class.’  The NIA welcomes this recommendation, a key-element in the current debate of nano-specific policies.
  • The NIA believes that it is unnecessary ‘to extend the coverage within the European Union of the existing regulatory regime for chemicals (REACH),’  as proposed by the RCEP because, as explained by the European Commission, nanomaterials are already fully covered by REACH as it is currently implemented.
  • The NIA particularly welcomes the RCEP’s assertion that labelling, despite fulfilling the legitimate wish of consumer information, ‘might also convey the false impression that nanomaterials have uniform properties, and is unlikely to be able to provide useful information about impacts on health or the environment. At present, we see no reason to recommend product labelling for nanomaterials.’

Follow this link to download the full NIA comment.

 

Related Links

UK Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution finds ‘no evidence of nanomaterials causing harm’
The UK Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution (RCEP) has launched a report entitled ‘Novel Materials in the Environment: The case of nanotechnology’ . (12th November 2008)

NIA submits written evidence to RCEP study
The Nanotechnology Industries Association today responded to an invite from the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution (RCEP) to give written evidence to the RCEP’s ‘Study on the environmental effects of novel materials and applications’. The NIA submitted its written evidence to the study by answering the RCEP’s questions on the subject of nanomaterials only.
Follow this link to download the NIA’s written evidence to the RCEP study. (20th July 2007)

 

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